On Friday 24 April 2015 Get Britain Standing.org is partnering with the British Heart Foundation to promote On Your Feet Britain.
Recent studies show that British people sit on average for 8.9 hours each day and that regardless of level of physical activity, sitting for more than 4 hours each day can lead to increased risks of;
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Cancer
- Back ache
- Dementia
- Depression
- Muscle degeneration
The University has many members of staff working in predominantly sedentary roles and we would like to encourage everyone to commit to trying out three of the small actions outlined below, on Friday 24 April 2015, as a first step to increasing the time you spend on your feet and in turn improving your general health and minimising the risks outlined above.
Research also suggests that standing for just 3 hours of your working day may increase calorie burn by up to 144 calories per day, which equates to over 8lbs of fat in a year!!!
Commit to just 3 actions;
- Stand during phone calls
- Stand and take a break from your computer for 5 minutes, every 30 mins (do some simple stretches)
- Use the stairs instead of lifts or escalators
- Have a standing or walking meeting
- Eat lunch away from your desk, at a location which requires a short walk to reach
- Walk to your colleagues desk to talk to them rather than emailing or phoning
- Stand at the back of the room during presentations
- Organise a group walk at lunchtime
Come on – Stand Yourself Healthy!!
Please visit these links for more information about Health & Wellbeing and the facilities and services provided by Kent Sport.